But Why Daddy?

Chapter 18

By: Lizzie

©Lizzie 2002-2004

            The instant that Paula hit the floor, she grabbed her stomach and cried out in pain. Randy stood for a second and looked at her, before he realized what he did. He went to her and tried to help her, but before he could get to her, there was a knock at the door.

“Police, is everything okay?”

Randy rushed to the door and pulled it open, “Everything’s fine, officer.”

The officer strained to look into the room, but Randy blocked him, “The manager called in about an argument.” he said, “Is there anyone else in the room with you?”

“Just my girlfriend.” Randy said

“Can we speak with her?” another officer asked

“She’s resting right now.”

“If it’s all the same, we’d still like to see her for ourselves.”

Randy looked back into the room, sighed and moved to the side. The officers walked in and saw Paula leaning against the bed still holding her stomach.

“Sir, turn around an put your hands behind your back.” the officer said as the other officer went to Paula.

“What? why?” Randy asked moving away.

“For our protection.” he said reaching for Randy’s arm and placing it behind his back. One cuff was placed on his wrist and the other arm was pulled back and placed in the other cuff. Randy was then walked to a chair and sat down.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” the other officer asked when he got to Paula. Paula couldn’t speak, she simply shook her head.

“How far along is your girlfriend?” the officer with Paula asked Randy

“I’m…not his girlfriend.” Paula said struggling to get up, “And I’m seven months pregnant.”

The officer helped her up so that she was sitting on the bed. He instantly noticed the bruise forming on her cheek and motioned for the other officer. That officer walked over to Paula and looked at her cheek.

“Ma’am, what happened?”

Paula sighed, “Randy’s upset because I won’t change my mind about giving up custody of my baby.”

“Because I could be the father!” Randy shouted

“I told you that you aren’t!” Paula yelled standing up. Then she grabbed her stomach again and sat down, “Josh is her father.”

“Miss, please stay seated.” the officer said. He whispered to the other officer to call for an ambulance. That officer nodded his head and walked out of the room to send for an ambulance.

“How did you get this bruise on your cheek?”

“I went to call a friend…” she paused, “No, that was how I ended up on the floor. I told Randy that I spoke with my daughter’s father’s lawyer and he became enraged and slapped me.”

A couple minutes later the ambulance arrived and Paula was helped into the back of the ambulance. Randy was taken to the police station where he was placed in a holding cell.

The Captain was making his rounds when he noticed Randy sitting in the cell. One of the officers at the desk nearby noticed the Captain staring into the cell, “Everything okay, Cap?”

“The man in the white shirt…what’s his name?”

The officer looked at his papers, “Randy Johnson, why?”

The Captain turned and looked at the officer, “At the woman that as with him?”

The officer’s brow wrinkled, “Sir, how did you know?”

“Never mind that, where is she?”

“County Hospital.”

The captain rushed to his office, closed the door, picked up the phone and dialed a number.

+*+

            Later on that night, Josh received a phone call form a number he didn’t recognize. He debated on whether he should answer it or not, but something was telling him that it was important.

Before he could answer the phone, someone else picked up the phone, “Hello?”

            “Does a Joshua Chavez live there?” the person asked

            “I’m sorry, you have the wrong number.”

            “Sorry about that.” the person said, then they hung up the phone.

            Karen walked into the living room where Josh was sitting, “Who was that on the phone?”

            “Someone asking for a Joshua Chavez.” she said with a shrug of her shoulders, “Any word from Liz or Robert?”

            Josh shook his head, “Nothing. Lance said that Liz was working, but he didn’t know on what.”

            “They’ll call soon enough.” she said

            A couple minutes later, the phone rang again, this time Cynthia picked it up and called out, “Josh, phone! It’s Liz.”

            Josh rushed to the phone in the kitchen and picked it up, “Liz?”

            “Good, you’re still home.” Liz said, “Paula’s at the hospital.”

            “Is she okay?” he asked

            “I don’t know. A friend called and told me she was taken there and that Randy is in jail.”

            “He’s in jail, for what?”

            “Hittin’ Paula. The paramedics think she may have gone into labor.”

Go to Chapter 19